Buttoning machine



March 25 ,-1924. 1,487,732

' H. E. ENSLIN BUTTONING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1320 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Nl ENTUR.

Fig.1.

H. E. ENSLIN BUTTONING MACHINE March 25 '1924. 1,487,732

Filed May 1, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTUR- g a i March 25 1924.

H. E. ENSLIN BUTTONING MACHINE Filed. May 1 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

tar

HERBERT E. ENSLIN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACEUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNI-TED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NTFJJ JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTONING EEAGHINE.

Application filed May 1, 1920. Serial 3T0. 378,107.

ri' iassachusetts, have invented certain Tmprovements in Buttoning Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like. parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to buttoning machines, and an object of the invention is to provide a machine which will perform buttoning operations with certainty and precision even when the work varies greatly in its characteristics as, for example, when the spacing of the buttons on the button piece and the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly, either on the same or different pieces of work, differs within a wide range or the spacing of the buttons on the button piece fails to accord with that of the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly. The invention aims further to provide a buttoning machine which will operate efliciently on buttons varying within wide limits in size and contour.

Viiththe above and other objects in view, one of the features of the machine, herein shown and described as constituting pre ferred embodiment of the invention, resides in norel buttoning mechanism constructed to dispose the material of a buttonhole fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button and then to press the material of the fly at the other side of the buttonhole into buttoned relation to the button, the buttoning mechanism being constructed and arranged to clear the side of the button adjacent to the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole previous to the completion of the buttoning operation and to tip the button over the material of the fly at the first-mentioned side of the buttonnole while the material at the .other side of the buttonhole is being pressed into buttoned relation to the button. In the present exempliflcation of the invention, the butt-oning mechanism comprises a buttoning device to which is imparted a substantially straight-line movement to dispose the material of the buttonhole fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button, and which is then r0- tated to complete the buttoning operation.

The illustrated machine is designed to perform buttoning operations successively, and important features of the machine consist in a novel organization of parts including devices for effecting relativemovement of a button on a button piece and the material adjacent to a buttonholel of a buttonhole fly to cause the button to enter the'buttonhole and means for moving the devices to feed the button piece and the buttonhole' fly. Preferably, the buttoning devices are moved toward each other in the performance of a buttoning operation and are then moved together while still in engagement with the work following the completion of the buttoning operation and with their work-engaging portions in substantially constant relation to each other to eflect the feeding movement of the button piece and the but-tonhole fly.

Another feature of the invention resides in a button holder constructed to receive a single button at a time and mechanism (:0- operating with the holder to perform buttoning operations on the buttons onoa button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to feed the button piece and buttonhole fly past the holder hnd comprising a buttoning device movable toward a button in the holder. In the illustrated machine, the button holder is in the form of a fork between which and the but toning'device a buttonhole fly may be located so that when the buttoning device is moved toward the button in the fork, it will engage thematerial of the buttonhole fly adjacent to the corresponding buttonhole of the fly and dispose it in buttoned relation to the button. In order to facilitate the buttoning operation and the subsequent feeding of the button piece and the buttonhole fly, the fork is withdrawn from the button while the buttoning operation is being performed, the button then being upheld by a support constituting a subsidiary buttoning device and co-acting with the main buttoning device to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

The buttoning operation is, preferably, further facilitated by constructing the but ton supporting fork with two relatively movable arms and moving one of the arms of the fork away from the other during the performance of each buttoning operation, thus enabling the buttons to be tipped in order to cause them more readily to enter the buttonholes.

Other impoltant features of the inven tion pertain to a buttonhole finder arranged to ride on the upper surfme of the buttonhole fly as it is fed and movable after engagement with a buttonhole of the fly to locate the buttonhole in register with a button in the fork; a button finder for introducing the buttons into the fork; and mechanism for suspending the feeding movement of the work feeding devices when a buttonhole of the fly has been brought into posi tion for location over button in the holder, such mechanism being preferably, and in the illustrated construction, controlled by the buttonhole finder.

Although the invention is herein described as embodied in a machine for performing buttoning operations successively, it is recognized that many of the features of the invention are capable of use in other relations, for instance, in machines for perform ing other operations on shoe uppers and in buttoning machines which perform a plurality of buttoning operations simultaneously. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention shall not be limited except as required by the claims.

Still other objects and features of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the machine, portions of the machine frame being broken away to reveal parts of the interior mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail in plan of the button supporting fork and the finder for moving the buttons into the fork, showing the finder in position to engage about the eye of a button;

Fig. 5 is a view in plan illustrating the fork and the button finder in the positions which they assume when a button has been moved into the for r by the finder and showing the operating connections for the fork and the finder and certain other of the moving parts of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the button finder withdrawn to expose the upper surface of the fork;

Fig. 7 illustrates the principal operating instrumentalities of the machine in the relative positions occupied by them at the time of the presentation of the work to the machine;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. but showing the operating instrumentalities in the positions which they assume just prior to the beginning of a buttoning operation;

Fig. 9 shows the operating instrumentalities at the point in the cycle of operations of the machine when tne main buttoning device has completed its endwise movement to dispose the material of the buttonhole fly at one side of a buttonhole in buttoned relation to a button;

Fig. 10 is a view in front elevation of the main buttoning device in the same position as in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view in plan of the work engaging portion of the main buttoning device in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 9 and 1110;

Fig. 12 is a view of certain of the operating instrumentalities, the main buttoning device having been rota-ted somewhat from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 illustrates the operating instrumentalit-ies in the positions which they occupy at the time of the completion of the feeding of the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

The illust; tire machine comprises a frame 2 from the front of which projects a fork i adapted to receive successively the buttons with respect to which buttoning operations are to be performed by the machine. Duri the operation the machine, the buttons are successively supported on an anvil (5, and the marginal portion of the buttonhole fly in which e buttonholes are formed is guided by a owed strip 8 supported at its ends fro-n the o niachine frame. The stt 8 is cut away at 10 to receive the main hint-oiling device to be hereinafter described and a lurttonhole finding finger arranged to engaee in buttonhole of the fly and to move the f inwardly to locate he buttonhole engaget by it in register w' a button in the for c As shown the finger 12 is pivoted at a bar 16 slidabl "EUUQl'Gtl in the frame 2 of the machine and formed at rear end with latera ly deflected portion 18 provided with a cam roll 20 riding in a cam groove in on. the cam shaft 26. The per 5 bar 16 is preferably forked to embrace the cam shaft 26 so as to guide the bar 16 in its move ments. The finger i2 is normally projected downwardly thro n the recess 10 of the th l:

. o guide 8 by a spring 28 connected at one of pwirdly extendits ends to a pin 30 on an 1 ing portion of the finger 12 and its other end any suitable means to the bar 16. At its rear end, the linger 153 is provided with a pin 31 arranged to engage a cam surface 82 on a cam block on rearward movement of the finger. The cam block 33 is slidably mounted in a recess in the machine frame 2 and is normally pressed forwards in the recess by a spring to a point determined by a pin 36 on the frame en- 5 gaging a shoulder on the cam block. The: spring is of strength than the spring 28, in consetpience of which, when the pin 31 in the rearward movement of the finger 2 is brought into engagement with the cam nrface 32, the block 33 is moved rearwardly y the linger until the rear surface 37 of he block engages the inner wall 38 of the ecess in which the block slides. Upon the =ngageinent of the block with the inner recess, conti med 1 arward wall 38 of Eli. movement of the finger 12 causes the roll to ride down the cam surface 32, thus elevating the forward end of the hnger 12 T J- t] I 1 I f 7 x away iioin he oattonuole n3. linen tno continued movement of the finger 12 rearwardly brin 's into engagement with the under su of the cam block 33, the cam b foiwardly by the shrin 34 result that 113011 C J a d inoveinent oi the maintains the finger aris substantially to the innit of .s for ard 1 the pin 3.

noven'ient when the roll 31 rides upwardly on the cam stir-- ace S2 and permits the ha age the fly. he bnttonhole fly havingbeen nioved rearwardly by the buttonhole finder 12 to locate bnttonhole of the fly over a button in the fork l, it is desirable that the fly be maintained in such position during the performance of the ensuing buttoning operation. In the illustrated construction, this is accomplished by a gripper lever 42 fulcrinned on the ma -hine frame 2 and formed with a downwardly estending portion 44 arranged to grip the bnttonhole fly adjacent to its edge against a block 46 stationarily mounted on the machine frame. The gripper 42 is normally maintained in inopera tive relation to the block 46 by a spring 4-8 and is operated to grip the bnttonhole fly against the block 4 6 by a bar 50 slidably mounted in the machine frame. The bar 50 is pro *ided at its rear end with aroll received in a slot 5% in a cam wheel 56 "ast on the cam shaft 26. The rear end of the bar 50 is forked to ei'i'ibrace the cam shaft 26 in manner analogous to the bar 16 In order to coniiensate for buttonhole flies of various thicknesses the bar 50 is made in two pieces between which is interposed a spring 58 wnich yields more or less in accordance with the thickness of the buttonhole fly.

The buttoniug devices comprise a main bnttoning device 60 and the anvil 6 which constitutes a subsidiary buttoning oevicethe twttoning device 60 and the anvil 6 being movable toward each other in a fixed path i 1 u 29,1 1,2 again to substantiallv in line with a button in the fork ins laattoning device 60 is preferably formed from a rod or length of wire having a substantially straight body portion 612 and being bent adjacent to its end, first laterally t le bod portion as indicated at (see ll), then away from the body portion both transverse to and in the direction of the'li 01 extension of the body portion, as inoicated at 66, and then backward toward the line of extension of the body portion to foin a terminal portion 68 curved in a plane substantially at right angles to the line of on of 'thc'body portion. tip of terminal curved l ice 60 is preflib portion 88 of the l and downwardly ed at Fig. 10, to

erably inclined ba.

from its point W W,

obviate possi. .ty of injury to the work by the device.

When the anv" 6 and the buttoning device 60 are moved toward each other, the terminal portion 68 the bnttoning device engages the mater al of the buttonhole fly at one side of a buttonhole in the fly and pushes it down into nttoneo relation to a button in the fork 4. Meanwhile, the anvil 6 is raised into position to support the button dur'ng the completion of the buttoning operation which is efl'ectet by rotation of the device 60. After the bnttoning operation is fully performed the anvil 6 and bnttoning device 60 inoved together laterally of the machine frame to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly so as to present the next adjacent button on the button piece and next buttonhole of the buttonh-ole fly to the fork l and bnttonhole finder 12 respectively, the

p the guide 8 being extended latertoning t recess 10 or ally of the machine to permit such inoveinent of the buttoning device 60 To facilitate the feeding of the button piece and the buttonhole fly and the performance of the buttoning operation, the button holding fork 4 is withdrawn from the button during the buttoning operation. Preferably, also, the fork is so constructed as to permit the buttons to be tipped during the bnttoning operations, thus causing them readily to enter the bnttonholes. To this end the fork coinprises two relatively movable arms 70 and T2, the forn'ier of which is withdrawn from the buttonhole during the buttoning operation at a point in advance of that at which the other arm 72 is withdrawn. The arm 70 is formed at the end of a bar 7% mounted to slide in the machine frame 2 and provided at its rear end, where it is forked to embrace the can; shaft 26 with a cane roll 76 riding in a cam groove 78 in a cam wheel 80 on the cam shaft 26. The other arm 72 of the button supporting fork 4i is formed as part of a bar 82 mounted to slide in the machine frame adj a ent to the bar 74 and in substantial parallelism with it. At its rearend it thrust upv truly cm the carrier 90 to a p mentof tie roll the slot '98 by a shank 9 1. In o co-operate with feeding the button pie fly, the carrier 90 is mount fo sliding movern of the machine.

the anvil 6 is eife r in? the shaft 102 the ceived in vertical slots 10-; rights 105 on the machine shaft 102 is provided 2 and nivoted at their outer ends to 110 fast on shaft 112 mounted in fixed bearing" in the at is provid d with downwardly extending 1 turn connected at its rear end to a bell cranl' lever 118 pivoted on a shaft- 120 ententing transversely of the machine frame. The other arm of the bell crank lever 1' 8 is provided with a cam roll 122 which rides ina cam groove 124tin the cam wheel The but-toning device is carried by a rod 126 to which it is secured in suitable manner as by means of a set screw 128 or the like. The rod 126 is connected at its upper end to a sleeve 180 mounted to slide on a rod 182 carried by the forked end of an arm 13 1, the hub portion of which is loosely mounted on a shaft 188 extending transversely of the machine frame 2. Depending from the hub of the arm 18 1 is an arm L to which is connected a link 1 12 in turn pivoted to a bell crank lever 1 1% loosely mounted. on a shaft 150 also disposed transversely of the frame of the machine. The rear arm 1* 2 of the bell crank lever lad is pro ided with a cam roll -1 riding in cam 156 in the cam wheel 2 1. Vfhen the cam shaft is operated, the rod 126 and the but-toning device are reciprocated vertically by the connections above described.

The arm '70 of the button supporting fork 4 at that side of the buttonhole which is en gaged by the buttoning device 60 in its downward movement is withdrawn just prior to the engagement of the buttoning device with the buttonhole fly, thus pernew-s2 mitting the device to dispose the material at that side of the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button (see Fig. 11). The buttoning device 60 is then rotated to complete the buttoning operation, the arm 7 2 of the fork being withdrawn just in advance of the tip of the terminal portion 68 of the device. The rod 126 which carries the buttoning device 00 passes through a carrier slidably mounted on transverse sl ifts 1-60, and the rod is rotatably connected to the sleeve 180, for example, by means of a pin 162 on the rod lying in a groove in a bos 16 depending from the 1 Rotation of the rod 126 is efa barrel 166 rotatably mounted in the carrier 158 and keyed to the rod 126 in Elit'l'l a manner as to permit longitudinal seen; of the rod relatively to the barrel out to cause the rod and the barrel to rotate together. The barrel 106 is rotated in the carrier 158 by pins 168 fitting into cam slots 169 in the barrel and carried by arms 1T0 depending from a yoke 172 having studs iounted to slide in arms 17% fast on the 188. The share 138 has depending "1 110111 an arm 176 to which is connected 0 the other end of which is in turn 0 an arm 180 of a bell crank lever arm 182 provided with a cam roll 18%: e' in a cam groove in the cam wheel 24. 1 the completion of a buttoning oporation, the button piece and buttonhole fly :re fed by moving the anvil carrier 90 and carrier 158 laterally of the 'EIIZLCllillG on shafs 102 and 160 respectively, the arrangement of the parts being such that the carriers 90 and 158 are actuated while the anvil 6 a d the buttoning device 60 are still in engagement with the work following the completion of a buttoning operation. The buttoning device 60 in its downward movement presses the work against the anvil 6 forcing the anvil downwardly somewhat against the resistance of the spring 100, so that the anvil clamps the work yieldingly against the main buttoning device 60, such relation of the anvil 6 and the buttoning device 00 being maintained substantially constant during the movement of the parts to feed the work. in the illustrated construction, the carrier 158 has a member 188 extending upwardly therefrom on its rear side provided with a slot in which moves a pin 190 on an arm 192 fast to the end of a shaft 19% rotatable in bearings 196 and 198 on the machine frame. Fixed to the shaft 194: adjacent to the forward side of the bearing 198 is an arm 200 to the end of which is joined a link 202 connected at its other end to an arm 20% on a shaft 206 supported in bearings 208 and 210. Secured on the forward end of the shaft 206 is an arm 212 carrying a pin 214; movable in a slot 215 being operated upon.

The shaft 120 is oscillated to raise and lower the arm 223 by a second arn fixed to the shaft and having a cam roll 225 riding in a groove 226 in the cam wheel 56.

The spacing of the buttons and buttonholes, both on the same and different pieces of work, varies considerably. Accordingly, in order to enable the buttons to be presented to the fork 4 and the buttonholes to be properly alined with the buttons in the fork, I provide mechanism for automatically varying the extent of feeding movement of the anvil carrier 90 and the carrier 158 in accordance with variations in the spacing of the buttons and buttonholes in the work In the present exemplification of the invention this mechanism is controlled by the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly and comprises the buttonhole finding finger 12, the construction being such that the work feeding movement of the anvil 6 and buttoning device 60 is suspended when the finger 12, which during the feeding of the work rides on the buttonhole fly, passes into a buttonhole. As shown, the rod 222 is arranged to be connected to the arm 223 by means of a latch 228 provided with a lip 230 disposed for engagement over the end of the arm. The lip 230 of the latch 228 is normally held in engagement with the arm 2 3 a spring 231 connected at one end to an arm 232 of the latch and at its other end to a foot 234 depending from a block 236 on the rod 222. A pin 238 on the block 236 limits the movement of the latch 228 under the action of the spring 231. The upper end of the latch 228 is embraced by a bent pin 240 carried by an arm 242 fulcrumed on the bea ring 198. A rod 244 slidably mounted in the frame 2 of the machine passes through the arm 242 and is provided rearwardly of the arm 242 with a nut 246. The rod 244 is formed at its forward end with a depending portion having a slot 248 in which the pin on the buttonhole finding finger 12 moves. Vith this construction, when the arm 223 is raised the anvil 6 and buttoning device are moved to the left on the machine frame to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly. Upon register of a buttonhole of the fly with the finger 12 and consequent downward movement of the finger into the buttonhole, the pin 30 carried by the finger, by engagement with the slot 248 of the rod 244, moves the rod 244 forwardly and thereby, through the instrumentality of the arm 242, disengages the lip 230 of the latch 228 from the arm 223. Consequently, the work feeding movement of the anvil 6 and buttoning device 60 will be discontinued, the arm. 223 completing its upward movement without affecting the positions of such parts. When, in the continued operation of the machine, the arm 223 is again lowered, it engages the block 236 on the rod 222 and returns the anvil. 6 and but? toning device 60 into alinement with the fork 4. In the meantime, however, the buttonhole fiy engaging end of the finger 12 is raised so that when the arm 223 is depressed, the lip 230 of the latch 228 is permitted again to engage over its end.

The feeding of the button piece and the buttonhole fly by the anvil 6 and buttoning device 60 causes the next adjacent button on the button piece to be alined with the fork 4, the arms and 72 of which are moved forwardly substantially simultaneously after the feeding movement of the button piece and buttonhole fiy terminates. It may happen, however, for example, by reason of the spacing of the buttons on the button piece varying somewhat from that of the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly, that a button will not be located so as properly to enter the fork when it is moved forward. Accordingly, I provide a button finder operating to engage the buttons successively as the work is fed and to introduce them into the fork 4. As shown, the button finder comprises two hook members 250 pivoted at 252 to an enlargement 254 of a bar 256-slidable in the machine frame 2 abovev the bar 74. The bar 256 is preferably forked at its outer end to embrace the cam shaft 26 and is provided with a cam roll 258 riding in a cam groove 260 in the cam wheel 80. The members 250 are normally pressed toward each other by springs 262 on the bar 256. They maybe separated, however, in opposition to the springs 262 by a wedge 264 interposed between them and connected to .a bar 266 arranged to slide over the bar 82. The bar 266 is preferably bifurcated at its rear end to embrace the cam shaft 26 and motion is imparted to it by means of a cam roll 268 received in a cam groove 270 of the cam wheel 88. The wedge 264 maintains the members 250 separated when they are moved away from the button fork 4 to enable them to pass on opposite sidesof the eye of a button, after which the wedge is moved for wardly to permit the button engaging membersto close on the eye of the button and to cause them to move the button into the button supporting fork 4 when they are again moved toward the fork. After the members 250 have moved a button into the fork 4, they are separated by rearward movement of the wedge 264 and are then moved rearwardly to clear the upper surface of the fork.

The manner of operation of the machine will now be described. The machine is stopped with the operating instrumentalities in the relative positions shown in Fig. 7

The anvil 6 and the main buttoning device 60 are at the limits of their movement to the left. (see Fig. 1) and are fully separated from each other. The huttonhole finding linger 1A is down in position to have a hutt-onhole of a huttonhole fly engaged over it. The gripper lever i2 is withdrawn. "from the gripper block 16, and the arms 70 and 72 of the button supporting tori: -1- are nojected forwardly to button receiving position. 7

In this position of the parts. the members 250, constituting the hutton tinder. are vithdrawn rearwardly of: the button toil: so as to clear the fork. as seen in Fig. 6. The wort to be operated upon is pi sented to the machine with the first itton to he huttoned introduced into the fork t, and the corresponding huttonhole of the huttonhole tly engaged over the fin er 12. lVhen the machine is used to button shoes. the are passed through the space between the anvil carrier 90 and the machine "frame. l" a 'ht shoe is to he buttoned, the button ner't to the throat of the shoe is first introduced into the tori; 42 with the hutton piece lying against the under surface of the fork. The huttonhole tiy lies on the top of the anvil 6. and the marginal edge of the '1 y in which the huttonholes are formed is turned back over the fork 4t with its upper surface toe howed strip 8. hen the machine is used to hut ton a lett shoe. the relati n of the button piece and the huttonhole fly to the machine is the same in the case a right shoe except that the shoe is reversed, end to end. and the button adj cent to the upper end of the hutton piece is first introduced into the tori: and the corresponding huttonhole oi the but! tonhole flv engaged over th end of the finger 12. Upon the starting up of the ma chine. the linger 12 is drawn hack to locate the huttonhole engaged h -r it over the top of the button the fork. after which the gripper lever 42 is swung to the lett. seen in Fig. h tho'har to chunp the edge of the huttonhole 'l'ly again. t the hloc-k IO- Furth or movement of the huttonhole finding finger 12 causes it he withdrawn from the huttonhole by reason of the engagement of the pin31 on the finger with the cam surface 32 of the cam block The finger 12 then continues back out of the way of the main buttoning device 60. i

In the continued operation of, the ma chine. the anvil carrier 90 and the carrier 158 are moved to the right to aline the anvil 6 and the buttoning device with the button in the fork. The anvil 6 is moved up under the work, and the huttoning device 60 is moved downwardly toward the lmttonhole fly, the parts being then in the positions exhibited in Fig. 8. Just prior to the engage ment of the hut-tonhole tly by the huttoning device 60, the arm of the fork t is withvice 60. Alter the huttoning device has been cd to a point such that its tip (war-hangs slightly the end of the arm 72 of the fork 4. as indicated in 12, the arm 72 ot the fork is withdrawn from the button at a rate substantially equal to that of the advancing movement of the tip of the huttoning device, the relative positions of the end of the arm and the tip ot the huttoning device remaining .ubstartially unchanged as the arm 72 is withdrawn. T

i, .asmuch as the arm 70 has been previously withdrawn from tie opposite side of the loutton the latter is permitted to tip during the rotation of the huttoning device, thus facilitating entry into the huttonholo. The huttoning dev ce 66 is preferably rotated. to point such as to cause its tip to engage the side of the buttonhole engaged by it in its endwise movement to insure that the material out the huttonhole will be fully disposed in buttoned relation to the button.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the huttoniug device 60 first disposes the material of the fly adj acentto one side of a lnittonhole in ozhtoned relation to a button and then by its rotation presses the material at the other side of the huttonhole downu': rdly along the head oi the ion. simultan ously clearin the side of the lnzttcn adjacent to the first-mentioned side of the hut tonhole and tipping the on tton over the ma terial oi the fly at such side of the huttonhole. The terminal port-ion 68 the huttoning device 60 (see Fig. 11) converges from its tip toward the axis of rotation of the device. Consequently. when the huttoning device is rotated from the position indicated in Fig. 11 to complete a huttoning operation, the spiral portion 68 of the device tends by a camining action, as well as h forcing the material of the downwardly along the button head. to tip the button into the buttonhole and also to draw the material at the side of the hut-tonhole inwardly beneath the head of the button. The construction and manner of operation of the huttoning device 60 are such as manifestly to adapt i to 0perate etfioiently on buttons, the heads of which vary within wide limits in size and conto For example. inasmuch as the button ing tevice engages the work only at points adjacent to or about the periphery of the button, its action will not be affected by ariations in the shape of the central portion of the crown of the button.

After a buttoning operation is completed, the bar is moved rearwardly, thus permitting the spring it? to withdraw the gripper lever 4:2 from clamping engagement with the buttonhole fly, the button piece and buttonhole fly being yieldingly held against the buttoning device by the anvil 6. The anvil 6 and inittoning device 60 are then moved to the left 1), carrying the button piece and buttonhole with them. As the anvil 6 and the buttoning device 60 are moved to feed the work, the buttonhole finding finger 12 is moved for *a 'ds, its end engaging and riding upon the upper surface of the fly as the work is fed. Upon engagement of the finger 12 in a buttonhole of the fly, the end of the finger is depressed under the action of. the spring 28, thereby disconnecting the latch 2 8 from the arm 223 and suspending the feed of the work. The anvil 6 and buttoning device 60, after having completed th ir feeding movements, are separated to starting positions. At the same time in the cycle of operations of the machine, the but ton finder, comprising the button engaging members 250, is moved forward and closes around the eye of the next adjacent button on the button piece and draws it into the fork i which is moved forwardly at substantially the same time, the members 250 continuing their rearward movement after the introduction of the button in the fork to clear the upper suriace of the fork. This completes a cycle of operations of the macnine, and the machine will repeat until the operators foot is lifted from the controlling treadie not shown).

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a buttoning machine, means for disposing the material adjacent to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly in buttoned relation to a button on a button piece, a support for the button, and means for moving said means and the support together with the work en "1g portions of said means and the supach other to feed the buttonhole fly and the button piece.

In a buttoning machine, devices operable successively on the buttons on a button piece and on the ma erial adjacent to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly to perform buttoning operations, and means for mov ing said devices while still in engagement with the button piece and the fly following the completion of a buttoning operation to feed the button piece and the fly.

3. In a buttoning machine, devices operain substantially constant relation to bie on a buttonhole fly and the buttons on a button piece, means for eifecting relative movement of said devices to perform a buttonin operation on a button on the button piece with respect to a buttonhole of the fly, and means for imparting movement of another character to said devices to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

in a buttoniug machine, mechanism for performing buttoning operations successively on the buttonsof a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising devices for effecting relative movement of the buttons and the materiai adjacent to the buttonhoies of the buttonhole fly to cause the buttons to enter he buttonholes and .ieans for moving said devices together after the completion of each buttoning operation to cause them to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly by engagement with the button piece and the buttonhole fly substantially in the manner in which the buttoning operation 15 completed.

5. In a butt-oning machine, a button support movable laterally on the frame of the machine in the direction of the length of a line of buttons on the button piece of shoe and means cooperating with the support to perform but-toning operations successively on the buttons of the button piece with respect to the butt'onholes of a buttonhole fly.

6. In a buttoning machine, a button support, yielding means tending to move said support in one direction, and means for pressing the material adjacent to a button in the opposite direct-ion against the tendency of the yielding means to dispose the material in buttoned relation to abutton on the support.

7. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for performing buttoning operations successiveiy on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising a button support movable laterally on the frame of the machine, and means co-operating with the support to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

8. In a buttoning machine, a work support movable laterally on the frame of the machine, a member movable with the work support to feed a button piece and a buttonhole .100 hole of a buttonhole fly against the support I fly, and means for moving the member towards the support to per'torm a buttoning operation on the buttons of the button piece with respect to the buttonhoies of the buttonhole fly.

9. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for performing buttoning operations successively on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the butt-onholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising a button support, means for reciprocating the support vertically, and means for advancing the button piece and buttonhole fly intermittently relatively to the support to locate the buttons on the button piece and the buttonholes of the fly successively in the vertical plane of the support.

10. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for performing but-toning operations successively on the buttons of a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of buttonhole fly, comprising a button support, a member op is on the buttonhole to dispose the aterial adjacent to a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button on the support, and means for moving the support and member together to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

11. In a buttoning machine, a button holder constructed to receive a single button at a time, devices operable on a button in the holder and on a buttonhole fly to perform a but-toning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of the fly, and means for moving the devices relatively to the holder to feed the work.

12. In av buttoning machine, mechanism for performing buttoning operations successively on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising a button holder constructed to receive a single button at a time and means for taking each button from the holder and feeding it beyond the holder to present the following buttons on the button piece to the holder successively.

13. In a buttoning machine, mechanism for performing buttoning operations successively on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, comprising a slidable button sup porting fork, means for sliding the fork away from abutton in the fork after the work has been engaged by the buttoning mechanism, and means for feeding the button piece and buttonhole fly after the fork has been withdrawn.

14. In a buttoning machine, a button holder constructed to receive a single button at a time and mechanism cooperating with the holder to perform buttoning operations successively on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a button hole fly, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to feed the button piece and buttonhole fly past the holder and comprising a buttoning device movable toward a button in the holder.

15. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, devices operable on a button in the holder and on a buttonhole fly to perform a buttoning operation. on the button with re spect to a buttonhole of the fly, said devices being constructed and arranged to clamp the work between them, means for moving the button holder away from the button after the work has been engaged by the buttoning' devices, and means for moving the devices relatively to the button holder to feed the Work.

16. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, an anvil, buttoning device, means for moving the anvil and buttoning device toward each other in line with a button in the holder to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means for moving the anvil and the buttoning device together away from the holder to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly.

1?. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, devices movable toward each other in line with a button in. the holder to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of a buttonhole and movable away from each other to release the button and the buttonhole fly, and

for moving the devices together toward and away from the button holder, said means being constructed to move the devices away from the button holder while they are in engagement with the work so as to feed the work.

18. In a buttoniug machine, devices 0perable upon a button and a buttonhole fly, and operating means for said devices operable to move them toward each other to perform a buttoning operation on the button with reto buttonhole of the buttonhole fly and to move them away from each other to release the button and the buttonhole fly, said operating means being constructed and arranged to move the devices together in op posite directions intermediate between the first-mentioned movements so as to feed the work and restore the devices to button engaging position.

19. In a buttoning machine, a button receiving member having a movable arm, devices operable on a button in the member and on the buttonhole fly to perform a buttoning operation, and means for moving the arm to facilitate the buttoning operation.

20. In a buttoning machine, a button holder having a movable member, a support for abutton piece and a buttonhole fly, a buttoning device movable towards the support, and means for simultaneously moving the buttoning device and the member to perform a buttoning operation on a button with respect to the buttonhole of a buttonhole fly.

21. In a. buttoning machine, a button supporting fork, comprising relatively movable arms, an anvil, a device movable toward the anvil to perform a buttoning operation on a button in the fork with respect to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, and means for moving one arm of the fork relatively to the other to enable the button to be tipped, thereby to facilitate its entrance into the buttonhole.

22. In a buttoning machine, a. button supporting fork comprising relatively movable arms, devices operable on a buttonhole fly and on a button in the fork to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly, and means for moving one arm of the fork relatively to the other to enable the button to be tipped to facilitate the operation of the buttoning devices.

23. In a buttoning machine, a button supporting fork comprising relatively movable arms, devices movable'toward each other in line with a button in the fork to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, means for moving the arms of the fork successively away from the but-ton, and means for moving the devices to feed the work.

24. In a buttoning machine, a movable button holder, means for gripping a buttonhole fly, devices operable on the button hole fly and on the button in the holder to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly while the fly is engaged by the grip ping means, means for moving the button holder to release the button, means for releasing the gripping means from the fly, and means for operating the devices toifeed the work after the fly and button have been released.

25. In a buttoning machine, a holder for successively receiving the buttons on the button piece of a shoe, a finder for successively engaging in the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, means for moving the tinder to locate the buttonholes over the corresponding buttons, and devices for performing buttoning operations on the buttons and buttonholes.

26. In a buttoning machine, devices operable on a buttonhole fly and on the buttons of a button piece to perform buttoning operations successively on the buttons of the button piece with respect to the buttonholes of the buttonhole fly, means for operating the devices to feed the button piece and the buttonhole fly, and a finder arranged for successive engagement with the buttonholes of the fly as it is fed and operable to movethe fly to dispose the buttonholes of the fly in position to enable the buttoning operations to performed.

27. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, mechanism co-operating with the holder to perform buttoning operations successively on the buttons on a button piece with respect to the buttonholes of a buttonhole fly, said mechanism comprising means for feeding the button piece and buttonhole fly relatively to the holder, and a finder arranged for successive engagement with the buttonholes of the fly as it is fed and operable to move the fly to position the buttonholes of the fly successively in line with the buttons in the holder.

28. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, devices operable on a button in the holder and on a buttonhole fly to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly, means for withdrawing the button holder from the button after work has been engaged by said devices,-means for operating sald devices to feed the work, and a finder arranged for successive engagement with the buttonholes of the fly as it is fed and operable to move the fly to position the buttonholes of the fly successively over the buttons in the holder so as to enable the buttoning devices to dispose the material adjacent to the buttonholes in buttoned relation to the buttons.

29. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, devices operable on a button on 'a button piece, when disposed in the holder, and on a buttonhole fly to perform a buttoning operation on the button with respect to a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly, means for withdrawing the button holder from the button after the work has been engaged by said devices. means for operating said devices to feed the work, a button finder for engaging the next adjacent button on the button piece and moving it into theholder, and a find-erarranged forengagement with the next adjacent buttonhole of the fly and operable to move the flyto position the buttonhole over the button so as to enable the buttoning devices to dispose the material adj acent to the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button.

In a buttoning machine, a button holder, a button finder for moving a button into the holder, a buttonhole finder for moving a buttonhole fly to dispose a buttonhole of the fly over the button in the holder, meansfor gripping the buttonhole fly, and devices for performing a buttoning operation 011 the button with respect to a buttonhole of the buttonhole fly while the fly is held by the gripping means.

31. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, a button finder for moving a button into the holder, a buttonhole finder for moving a buttonhole fly to dispose a buttonhole of the flyover the button in the holder, means for gripping the'buttonhole fly, devices for performing a buttoning operation. on the button with respect to the buttonhole while the fly is held by the gripping means, means for releasing the work from constraint by the gripping means, and means for operating said devices to feed the work after the fly has been released by the gripping means so as to bringthe adjacent button of the button piece and buttonhole of the fly into position for engagement respectively by the button finder and buttonhole finder. 7

32. In a machine for performing buttoning operations successively on a buttonhole fly, and the buttons on a button piece, means om tie feeding; means and controlled by the Work for governing the extent of movement of the feeding means.

in a machine for operating. on the appcrs of boots and shoes, means for feeding a portion of the upper, and means separate from the feeding means a1 d. controlled by the Work for governing the extent of move ment of the feeding means.

34. In a. buttoning machine, means for feeding the buttons on a butt-on piece and a buttonhole fly, and a buttonliole finder construt-ted and arranged to stop the feed when the finder engages a buttonhole.

35. ln but-toning machine, a. spring pressed finder, means for feeding" a: buttonhole fiy the finder, and means controlled by the entry of the finder into a buttonho-le for stopping the feeding 36. ln a machine for operating on the uppers-of boots and shoes, means for feeding a buttonhole fly, a buttonhole finder, and means controlled v the finder for governing the operation of the feedingmeans.

37. In machine for operating on the uppers of boots and shoes, means for feeding the Work, a bu-ttonhole finder adapted to ride on the buttonhole fiy as it is fed; and means operating upon engagement of the finder in a buttonhole of the to arrest the operation of the feeding means.

38. Ina butt-oiling machine, devices operable on a button on a button piece to perform a buttoning operation on the b tton with respect to a buttonhole of a l'iuttonhole means for operating said devices t teed the Work, a buttonhole finder arranged to ride on the fiv, and means operated by the finder to arrest the operation of the operating means. 7

39. In a machine for operating on the up pets of boots and Shoes, means for feeding a but-tonhole tlv, operating means for the feeding; means comprising connections adapted to be made and broken, and means "controlled by the W01; for breaking said connections, thereby to suspend the operation of the feeding means; A

40. a buttoning machine, devices operable on a buttonhole 'fiv and a button on a button piece to perform a buttonino; operation on'the button with respect to a 7 hole of the means for operating vices to feed. the WOI'lL conipi' tions ada ted to be made and broken, a buttonhole finder, and means operable upon engagement of the finder with a buttonhole to break thewonnections'. thereby to suspend the operation of the operating" means. i

41. In a buttoning machine. buttonino devices, for moving one of the devices toward another of the devices in a fixed path to dispose the material adjacent to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly in buttoned relation to a button on a button piece, means for moving the devices to feed the button piece and buttonhole fly, and means for suspend'm' the tee-dine; movement ot the do "-flCQS when the next adjacent buttonhole of the fly has bceuhrought substantially into path of movement 01 the firstonentioned device toward the other device.

In bnttoning machine, a button sup port, buttoning device movable toward the support in a fixed path to dispose the material adjacent to a button hole of a buttonhole fly in bnttonet relation to a button on the support, means tor moving the support and .buttoning device to feed the Work, and means for suspend ng the feedingmovement of the support and the device when the next adjacent buttonhole of the buttonhole fly has been brought substantially into the path of movement of the LlQYlCetUWZITd the support.

43. lu a bottoming machine, a buttonhole finder moi able to locate the buttonholes 0t LLlv a buttonhole fly With respect to the corre- 'SB-Olltllfig buttons of a-button piece, and

and pivotal moveir and move the outtonholes St c .0 position, and. 1

neans for feeding the buttonhole fiy with. respect to ti e finder.

in a buttoning m chine, a reciprocating buttonhole [inner operable to mo -re a buttonhole fly to locate a buttonhole of the fiv in position to receive a button on a button piece, and means for withdrawing the finder from a buttonhole ot' the fiy constructed spare the finder from the bnt-tonhole fly upon reverse nfiovement of the finder.

l'n a buttoning nachine, a recipro cating' buttonhole finder, a. cam block for withdrawing the finder from a huttonhole of a b-uttonhole fiv when the finder moves ;in one direct-ion, and means for moving the the cam block to maintain the fint'ier spaced relation to the hi' means for limiting: the n oveinent ot the.

LOO

the buttonhole fly as the finder moves in the other direction.

as. In a machine for operating on the uppers of boots and shoes, a member provided with a recess and having a surface disposed for engagement with the outer surface of abuttonhole fly, a finger arranged to project through the recess into engagement with a buttonhole of the fly, means for reciprocating the finger in the recess to locate the buttonhole in position to receive a button, and controlling means for the finger constructed to withdraw the finger from the buttonhole fly at one point of the recess and to cause the linger to pass through the recess into engagement with the buttonhole fly at another point of the recess.

49. In a machine for performing buttoning operations successively on a buttonhole fly and the buttons on a button piece, means for feeding the button piece, a button holder, a button finder, and means for operating the button finder intermediate between the feeding movements of the button piece to move the buttons on the button piece successively into the holder.

50. In a buttoning machine, a button holding fork, and a button finder for locating a button of a button piece at the opening of the fork and moving it into the fork.

51. In a buttoning machine, a button holder and a pair of hook members operable to engage around the eye of a button and to move it into the holder.

In a buttoning machine, a button holder, a pair of button engaging devices for moving a button into the button holder, means tending normally to move the devices towards each other, and means for separating the devices to enable them to pass on opposite sides of the eye of a button, said separating means being operable to permit the devices to close on the eye oi the button.

53. In a buttoning machine, a button holder, a pair of button engaging members, means for moving the button engaging mem bers toward and'from the button holder, means tending normally to press the engaging members together, a wedge for controlling the engaging members, and operating means for the wedge constructed to move the wedge relatively to the members to separate said members upon movement of said members away from the button holder, thus enabling the members to pass on opposite sides of the eye of a button, and to move the wedge in a reverse direction relatively to said members previous to the next succeeding movement of the members towards the button holder so as to cause said members to close on the eye of the button and to move the button intov the button holder upon movement of said members toward the button holder.

5%. In a buttoning machine, buttoning mechanism constructed to dispose the material of a buttonhole'fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button and then to press the material of the fly at the other side of the'buttonhole into buttoned relation to the button, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to clear the side of the button adjacent to the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole previous to the completion of a buttoning operation and to tip the button over the material of the fly at the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole While the material at the lastmentioned side of the buttonhole is being pressed into buttoned relation to the button.

55. In a buttoning machine, buttoning mechanism constructed to dispose the material 01": a buttonhole fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button and then to press the material of the fly at the other side of the button into buttoned relation to the button, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to clear the side of the button adjacent to the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole previous to the completion of a buttoning operation and to tip the button over the material of the fly at the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole while the material at the last-mentioned side of the buttonhole is being pressed into buttoned relation to the button, abutton holder, and means for withdrawing the holder from the button to enable the buttoning mechanism to operate in the manner described.

56. In a buttoning machine, buttoning mechanism constructed to dispose the material of a buttonhole fly adjacent to one side oi a buttonhole of the fly in buttoned relation to a button and then to press the material of the fly at the other side of the button into buttoned relation to the button, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to clear the side of the button adjacent to the firstmentioned side of the buttonhole previous to the completion of a buttoning operation and to tip the button over the material of the fly at the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole while the material at the last-mentioned side of the but-tonhole is being pressed into buttoned relation to the button, a button holder con'iprising relatively movable parts, means for withdrawing one of said parts from beneath the side of the button adjacent to the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole of the fly to enable the material of the fly to be disposed in buttoned relation to the button while it is supported by another part of the holder and to permit the button to'be tipped during the completion of the buttoning operation, and means for withdrawing said other part of the holder from the button after the material at the first-mentioned side of the button has been disposed in buttoned relation to the button to enable the material of the fly at the other side of the buttonhole to be pressed into buttoned relation to the button.

57. In a buttoning machine, a buttoning device operable to dispose the material of a buttonhole fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole in the fly in but-toned relation to a button and constructed upon rotation to clear the adjacent side of the button and to press the material of the buttonhole fly at the other side of the button into buttoned relation to the button, While simultaneously tipping the button over the material at the first-mentioned side of the buttonhole, and means for rotating the buttoning device.

58. In a buttoning machine, means for 10- eating a buttonhole fly with a buttonhole of the fly in position to receive a button, and a device mounted for rotary movement around the button for disposing the material of the fly adjacent to the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button.

59. In a buttoning machine, a buttoning device, means for imparting a movement of translation to said device to dispose the material adjacent to a buttonhole of buttonhole fly at one point about the buttonhole in buttoned relation to a button, and means for rotating said device to complete the buttoning operation With respect to the button.

60. In a buttoning machine, a support for a button and a buttonhole fly, and a buttoning device constructed and arranged to rota te about the axis of the button to dispose the material of the fly in buttoned relation to the button.

61. In a buttoning machine, means for supporting a button and a buttonhole fly, and a buttoning device mounted to rotate on an axis intersecting the button, said device having a terminal port-ion diverging from said axis to act as a cam on the material around a buttonhole to press it into buttoned relation to the button.

62. In a buttoning machine, means for supporting a button and a buttonhole fly, a buttoning device having a portion to engage the material of the buttonhole fly. and means for rotating said buttoning device to cause its fly engaging portion to act progressively around a buttonhole to force the material of the fly into buttoned relation to the button.

63. In a buttoning machine, means for supporting a button and a buttonhole fly, and a rotary buttoning device having a spiral portion to Wedge the material of the buttonhole fly progressively under the head of a button.

64. In a buttoning machine, a substanti ally cork-screw shaped buttoning device, means for imparting to the device a movement of translation to dispose the material at one point about a buttonhole of a button hole fly in buttoned relation to a button, and means for rotating the buttoning device to complete the buttoning operation With respect to the button.

65. In a buttoning machine, a buttoning device comprising a strip of material having a substantially straight body portion and a terminal portion curved in a plane substantially at right angles to the line of extension of the body portion.

66. In a buttoning machine, a rotary buttoning device having a terminal Work-engaging portion curved in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the device and converging from its tip toward the axis of rotation of the device.

67. In abuttoning machine, a rotary buttoning device comprising a Work-engaging portion movable around a button substantially in the plane of the under surface of the button.

68. In a buttoning machine, buttoning mechanism operable to dispose the material of a buttonhole fly adjacent to one side of a buttonhole of the fly into buttoned relation to a button. and comprising a member movable around the button substantially in the plane of the under surface of the button to complete the buttoning operation.

69. In a buttoning machine, a buttoning device formed from strip of Wire having a substantially straight body portion, said strip being bent adjacent to its end first laterally of the body portion, then away from the body portion in the direction of extension of the body portion, and then back- Wardly toward the line of extension of the body portion and terminating in a curved portion disposed in a plane transverse to its body portion.

70. In a buttoning machine, a buttoning device. means for moving the device endwise, a sliding frame through which the device passes, means for reciprocating the frame to effect lateral movement of the device, and means carried by the sliding frame for rotating the device.

71. In a buttoning machine, buttoning mechanism comprising a device consisting of a strip of material having a substantially straight body portion and a terminal portion offset laterally from the body portion and curved in a plane substantially at right angles to the line of extension of the body portion and means for moving the buttoning device endwise into engagement With the material adjacent to a buttonhole of a buttonhole fly, means for locating the buttonhole fly in such relation to the buttoning device that the tip of the terminal curved portion of the device will engage the buttonhole fly at one side of the buttonhole of the fly and the part of the terminal curved portion remote from the tip will engage the fly at the opposite side of the buttonhole, and

means for operating the buttoning mechanism to complete the performance of the buttoning operation.

72. In a buttoning machine, a button holder comprising two relatively movable parts, means for locating a buttonhole fly with a buttonhole of the in register with a button in the holder and with one of the parts of the button holder underlying the buttonhole fly on one side of the buttonhole, a buttoning device movable into engagement with the buttonhole fly at the side of the buttonhole overlying said part, means for withdrawing said part of the button holder from beneath the side of the buttonhole, means for moving the buttoning device into engagement with the buttonhole fly to dispose the material at the side of the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button, and means for imparting movement of another character to the but-toning device to complete the buttoning operation.

73. In a buttoning machine, a button holding fork comprising two relatively movable arms, means for locating a buttonhole fly with a buttonhole of the fly iii-register with a button in the fork and with one of the arms of the button holder underlying the buttonhole fly on one side of the buttonhole and the other of the arms of the button holder underlying the buttonhole fly on the other side of the buttonhole, a buttoning device movable by translation into engagement with the buttonhole fly at the side of the buttonhole overlying the first-mentioned arm, means for withdrawing said arm from beneath the side of the buttonhole, means for imparting a movement of translation to the buttoning device to dispose the material of the buttonhole fly at that side of the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button, means for rotating the buttoning device to dispose the material of the buttonhole fly at the other side of the buttonhole in buttoned relation to the button, and means for withdrawing the other arm of the button holder from the side of the buttonhole in advance of the rotary movement of the device.

74:. In a buttoning machine, a button holding fork comprising two relatively movable arms, means for locating a buttonhole fly with a buttonhole of the fly in register with a button in the fork and with one of the arms of the button holder underlying the buttonhole fly on one side of the buttonhole and the other of the arms of the button holder underlying the buttonhole fly on the other side of the buttonhole, a buttoning device mo'vable into engagement with the buttonhole fly at the side of the buttonhole overlying the first-mentioned arm and comprising a fly engaging portion adapted to lie substantially flat on the fly, means for withdrawing said arm of the'button holding fork from beneath the side of the bottonhole be fore the fly is engaged by the buttonin device, means for moving the buttoning device so as to bring the fly engaging portion of the device below the level of the upper surfaces of the arms of the button holder to dispose the material at that side of the buttonhole fly in buttoned relation to' the button, means for withdrawing the other arm of the button holder from beneath theother side of the buttonhole fly, and means for rotating the buttoning device to cause the fly engaging portion of the device to follow the last-mentioned arm in its withdrawing movement, thus completing the buttoning operation.

7 5. In a machine for performing successive buttoning operations on shoes, an operating tool and a cooperating work support constructed and arranged to have relative movement of approach to effect a buttoning operation on the buttons of the button piece with respect to the buttonholesof the buttonhole fly, means for moving both the operating tool and the work supportin another direction to feed the work, and means for gripping the work in the new position While the operating tool and the work support separate and return to their original positrons.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT E. ENSLIN. 

